Tag: "Ed Stolz"

More August PPM Numbers. Markets 26 through 31 are in and in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Anaheim Broadcasting’s KOLA (“All Classics All the Time, 99.9″) makes it eight PPM months without a drop. The station climbed to 6.4 in August…..Up in Sacramento, Entercom’s KDND (“The End”) explodes to a 7.3 topping CBS Radio‘s KNCI (“New Country 105.1″) which falls to #3 with a 5.4…..In San Antonio, Clear Channel’s country KAJA (“KJ97″) stays on top with a 0.9 jump to a 9.0, staying firmly ahead of Cox Radio’s KCYY (“Y100″) which grabbed a 6.4…..In Cincinnati, Reds flagship news/talk WLW jumps more than 2 shares on to hit a 13.5 for the month while Cumulus adult contemporary WRRM (“Warm 98″) has its second straight strong month with a 5.7 to finish at #6…..Heading north to Cleveland, Clear Channel’s rock/talk hybrid WMMS enjoys another nice month and moves to #8 in the market with a 5.0. CC owns six of the market’s top 11 stations…..And in Salt Lake City, Cumulus Media’s country KUBL (“K-Bull 93″) jumps from #9 to #4 with a 5.5, its best showing since last November’s 6.1. Read Mike Kinosian’s detailed analysis of these markets here.

CBS Radio’s KMLE, Phoenix Country 108 Names Brad Booker Morning Host.Brad Booker takes over the morning show slot on KMLE Country 108 on September 17. He comes to CBS Radio from his most recent on-air gig at Cumulus Media’s KWNR, Las Vegas but he’s also been a successful air talent at stations in Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, Kansas City and New Orleans. KMLE program director and vice president of country artist label relations for CBS Jeff Garrison says, “We are excited to have Brad Booker on the KMLE team. Having worked with Booker at (CBS Radio’s) ‘Hot 95-7’ in Houston, I witnessed first-hand his upbeat, and entertaining style. Listeners embraced his program and I expect nothing different here in Phoenix.”

Former KMLE Country 108 Stars Tim and Willy Strike Internet Deal with Bonneville. A little more than three months after being let go as the morning team from CBS Radio’s KMLE, the duo of Tim Hattrick and Willy D’Loon announce they’ve struck a pact with Bonneville on a deal to distribute content via KTAR.com, TimandWilly.com and through social media channels. Bonneville VP of news and sports content Ryan Hatch says, “We’ve always admired Tim and Willy’s commitment to this market. At KTAR.com, they’ll now have a large, locally engaged audience to share their stories, songs and humor with their loyal following, and will be introducing their unique style of local entertainment to the KTAR audience.” In a statement, Bonneville notes that although Tim and Willy are known primarily as music radio personalities, the KTAR partnership will allow them to demonstrate their knowledge, insights and interests in local news and sports, with their trademark wit and musical parody chops on full display. Tim Hattrick says, “Although we’ve been off the air for three months, the Tim and Willy show has continued every day online. We’re thrilled to join KTAR.com to give our fans better access to our content than ever before!” The content sharing relationship begins September 19.

Entercom Ups Michael Doyle to Regional President. Regional vice president since 2007 and VP and market manager for Rochester before that, Entercom announces Michael Doyle is promoted to regional president. In his new duties, Doyle will continue to manage the Buffalo, Gainesville, Indianapolis, Memphis, Rochester, Wichita and Wilkes-Barre markets. He’ll also continue his growing leadership role at Entercom, spearheading a number of key corporate initiatives, including Entercom’s Market Support Group which oversees communications, recruitment, training and integrated sales strategies for all of the 23 markets in which Entercom operates. In a statement, Entercom president and CEO David Field states, “Michael Doyle has been an outstanding, innovative leader for Entercom over his 12 years with the company. He is an exceedingly bright and talented executive who excels at both strategic planning and operational execution. We are fortunate to have Michael on the Entercom team.”

TuneIn to Be Included in 2013 Chevy Spark MyLink Dash. Digital audio content aggregator TuneIn strikes a deal with GM to use Livio Connect technology so its app can be integrated into the MyLink Radio dashboard of 2013 Chevrolet Spark models made globally. According to a release, Livio Connect is a middleware framework protocol that enables hardware devices and mobile apps, now including TuneIn, to connect to and interact with one another. GM uses Livio Connect technology, which allows owners of Chevy Sparks equipped with the MyLink Radio to enjoy 70,000 stations. Livio Connect technology bridges the app, featured on iPhone and Android mobile devices, with MyLink. While connected through Livio Connect, all of the TuneIn buttons and controls from the mobile device will be available on MyLink’s seven-inch touch screen, while the app on the phone itself will be disabled to help promote safer driving.

We Didn’t Start the Fire. If you’re young and you think you know it all, you don’t. If you’re older and you think you’ve nothing more to contribute, it’s not true. Veteran radio broadcaster Bob Shannon, president of Minneapolis-based SpotMedia Services, contributes a stirring and informative article to RadioInfo paying tribute to some of the greats of top 40 radio – as well as other formats and genres – to whom today’s young radio professionals owe a debt of gratitude. If you have an interest in radio history and common sense wisdom, this piece will make your day. Shannon writes, What Elvis was to rock ‘n roll, Gordon McLendon and Todd Storz, the two men often called the “Fathers of Top 40,” were to radio. But, but they didn’t do it alone…. To read the entire RadioInfo exclusive article, click here.

FCC Denies Ed Stolz’s Objection to License Renewal for Entercom Stations. This one goes back a few years to the old feud between former KWOD, Sacramento (now KBZC) owner Ed Stolz and the company to which he sold the station: Entercom. Stolz sold that station in 1998 and had been in litigation with Entercom over the deal. He lost that battle in court but did a number of objection to license renewal filings with the FCC for stations the company owns including: KKDO, Sacramento; KRSK, Portland; KGON, Portland; WKRZ, Wilkes-Barre; and WKRF, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. As of September, 6 – six years after the initial filings – the FCC officially denies the objection to license renewal for the five stations.

Mike O’ Donnell Joins Grenax Broadcasting in Flagstaff and Prescott, AZ as VP/Director of Sales. The cluster includes “The Wolf” 96.7 FM, “Kolt Country” 107.5 FM, “Rewind” 92.5/104.1FM and 105.1 FM “The Big Talker” In making the announcement, Stan Pierce, Grenax Broadcasting GM in Flagstaff tells RadioInfo, “Mike O’Donnell possesses a combination of radio sales and marketing skills along with a deep understanding of lifestyle promotional concepts. He has an impeccable track record within sales management and is respected by everyone that he has encountered. Looking forward, his natural and passionate leadership style will be an important component to our sales and marketing staffs. We are delighted to have Mike aboard our great stations.” Greg Dinestz, president/CEO of Grenax adds, “Mike’s skill set and experience makes a perfect fit for our goals. We are very confident that he will have a positive impact on our business, our clients and our communities.” O’ Donnell tells RadioInfo, “I am absolutely thrilled to be leading our sales team in these markets that I have always been so passionate about. I’m committed to the many opportunities ahead of us!”

CBS Radio Flips WNEW-AM, Washington to Government and Business News. The AM side of the CBS Radio Washington, DC all-news duo (licensed to Morningside, Maryland) will become “Gov.Biz Radio 1580 AM” on October 1 – putting it in a head-to-head battle with Hubbard’s WFED, Washington. The station will feature content from The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, Bloomberg Radio and The Hill. Local programming will include host Nancy Lyons on a morning show called “The Daily Briefing” and a midday program dubbed, “The Capitol Report.”

More News. Former VP of finance and administration for Fox Television Stations sales Brent Taravella has been named SVP/CFO of Katz Media Group filling the opening left by Robert Damon….Cumulus Media has reinstated its company 401(k) match which it had cut back in 2009 as a way to conserve revenue during the onset of the recession. Good sign for radio….Jeffery Allen Beck’s Jeff Beck Broadcasting Group has acquired WFXZ-AM, Anniston, Alabama and WTDR-FM, Talladega, Alabama from Jim Jacobus’ Jacobs Broadcast Group. The price for the two is a reported $745,000. This increases Beck’s stable of stations in that region to five…..Premiere Networks and Fox News Channel talk superstar Sean Hannity will make a cameo appearance in “Atlas Shrugged: Part II,” the sequel to the film adaptation of Ayn Rand’s famed novel, which hits theaters in October. Playing a character close to home, Hannity will be featured as a cable news anchor and will be joined on the big screen with friends and Fox News contributors Bob Beckel, Juan Williams and Tamara Holder.

New Chair at CPB. Patricia Cahill is the new chair of the Board of Directors for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Elizabeth Sembler of Seminole, Florida is elected vice chair. Both are one-year terms. Cahill retired earlier this year as GM of public radio KCUR-FM (University of Missouri-Kansas City – UMKC), a position she held for 25 years. She is credited with putting the station on sound financial footing and greatly increasing the station’s listenership. Cahill was appointed to the CPB by President Obama in 2009. She is the first active public radio manger to be voted onto the Board of Directors of the CPB.

Public Station without Public Records Gets Fine. Northeast Indiana Public Radio’s WBNI-FM serving Fort Wayne, Indiana is slapped with a $10K fine by the FCC. Quarterly reports on public affairs and public issue broadcasts were missing from the station’s renewal application. NIPR GM Will Murphy told the Commission up front about the missing two-plus years of quarterly reports, rather have the FCC find the omission hoping to reduce the fine. WBNI hasn’t yet decided to pay the fine, due October 4, or appeal for a reduction in the amount. Renewal of the license is not in jeopardy. The second NIPR station in Fort Wayne, WBOI-FM, had properly maintained its public records.

The FM Auction Opens in March – The Freeze Starts Now. Auction 94 puts 117 FM frequency allotments up for bids next year. The starting bids for the frequencies range from $500 to $75,000. Comments about the opening bids and the auction are due at the FCC on October 10. The auction begins March 26, 2013. Complete details on Auction 94 are available here. The FCC notice places an immediate freeze on these 117 vacant allotments or other applications propose changes or interference to those channels. If interested, its probably best to call your FCC counsel.

Broadcast Actions at the FCC. The FCC grants the transfer of a construction permit for 94.1 in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota from Normin Broadcasting to Tom Ingstad’s Iowa City Broadcasting, which owns stations in three other Minnesota communities. The Iglesai Pentecostal Unida, McAllen, Texas, WVHI-FM construction permit is assigned to Vision Hispana Incorportated Internacional and a 100 Kw construction permit for KTUT-FM, Frankfort, South Dakota, is granted a transfer from Union Valley Baptist Church, Inc. of Stonewall, Oklahoma to Church Planters of America of Germanton, North Carolina.